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The
upper town of Granville is enclosed by ramparts and sits
on a rocky spur overlooking the Baie du Mont -St -Michel. The
walled town of Granville developed from fortifications
built by the English in 1439 as part of their assault on Mont
-St -Michel. The Musee de Vieux Granville is housed in
the town gatehouse with tributes to the town's long-established
seafaring tradition. Granville's lower town is an old-fashioned
seaside resort with a casino, promenades, gardens, amusements,
an aquarium and waxworks. There are boat trips from the port
of Granville to the Iles Chausey, some low-lying granite
islands that supplied the stone for the abbey of Mont -St -Michel.
Jersey is just 20 kms from the Normandy coast and there are day
trips every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Granville
to St Helier. On the northern edge of Granville, near
the main beach, is the former home of Christian Dior. The gardens
are open to the public and the house has now become a museum
to the famous couturier. |
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Normandy gets its name from the Viking Norsemen who
sailed up the River Seine in the 9th century and colonized the
area, making Rouen their capital. Normandy has large ports with
important transatlantic trade, whilst inland it is overwhelmingly
agricultural. The image of Normandy is one of a lush, tranquil,
pastoral region of apple orchards, contented cattle, Calvados
and Camembert. There are ancient picturesque ports such as Honfleur
to visit, seaside resorts with elegant promenades, splendid centuries-old
half-timbered manor houses lining quiet countryside lanes and
extrordinary Romanesque and Gothic architectural treasures. |
